1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) - Kenya

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

KARI Headquarters (KARI Headquarters) - Kenya

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Jomo Kenyatta University (Jomo Kenyatta University) - Kenya

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

18/09/2012

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Crop rotation is the practice of growing a series of different types of crops in the same area in sequential seasons.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Growing the same crop in the same place for many years in a row disproportionately depletes the soil of certain nutrients. With rotation, a crop that leaches the soil of one kind of nutrient is followed during the next growing season by a dissimilar crop that returns that nutrient to the soil or draws a different ratio of nutrients. Crop rotation mitigates the buildup of pathogens and pests that often occurs when one species is continuously cropped, and can also improve soil structure and fertility by increasing biomass from varied root structures.

Purpose of the Technology: Crop rotation improves crop's productivity, it reduces soil erosion and enhances maximum nutrient utilization. Crop rotation also improve soil properties and aeration. A nitrogen-fixing crop, like a legume, should always proceed a nitrogen depleting one; similarly, a low residue crop (i.e. a crop with low biomass) should be offset with a high biomass cover crop, like a mixture of grasses and legumes

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Crop rotation is practiced by subdividing the land into different portions. The portions are planted with crops e.g. cereals at first then in the next season, another plant is planted in the following manner; 1) Cereals crop with legumes, 2) Deep rooted with shallow rooted and a cover crop.

Natural / human environment: In Embu county, the main crops that are rotated includes, maize and legumes.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• create beneficial economic impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Soil erosion
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Soil erosion and low productivity
Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Cropland: Ca: Annual cropping

If land use has changed due to the implementation of the Technology, indicate land use before implementation of the Technology:

Cropland: Ca: Annual cropping

3.3 Further information about land use

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 90

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• rotational systems (crop rotation, fallows, shifting cultivation)

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:

• 10-100 km2

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Type of agronomic measures: better crop cover, rotations / fallows

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: soil management, crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub), land tenure

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The technical drawing on the left hand side shows a typical crop rotation arrangement, a series of different types of crops in the same area are grown in sequential season. These may include, cereals, legumes, alliums and solanaceae.

Location: Embu. Eastern Province
Date: 13.02.2013

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high
Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: improvement of ground cover, increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…)

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Kshs

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

100.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Land preparation	Agronomic
2.	Buy seeds	Agronomic

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Land preparation	ha	1.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
Plant material	Seeds	ha	1.0	50.0	50.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					250.0

Comments:

Lifespan of the product: Landpreparation (3 years)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Planting	Agronomic	Each cropping season
2.	Weeding	Agronomic

4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Planting and weeding	ha	1.0	50.0	50.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
Plant material	Seeds	ha	1.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					250.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

labour

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Soil fertility: Medium
Soil drainage/infiltration: Good
Soil water storage capacity: Medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users
Population density: 10-50 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 0.5% - 1%

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• individual

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Helps in controlling weeds.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Crop rotation prevents soil depletion of nutrients thus maintains soil fertility.
Crop rotation reduces soil erosion
Reduces pest's build-up thus prevents disease infestation.

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The fungi and pests left behind from a previous crop can potentially harm the new crop.	Liase with agronomist for advice on appropriate pesticides and fungicides to use.
More time is required in preparing fields for crops ahead of rotations.	Proper timing of farm operations in preparation of rotations

7.1 Methods/ sources of information